Lakers' schedule is about to get harder

Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, right, puts up a shot in front of Lakers center Robert Sacre during a Lakers' loss on Feb. 13. The Lakers will look to snap their three-game losing streak Sunday against the Thunder.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, right, puts up a shot in front of Lakers center Robert Sacre during a Lakers' loss on Feb. 13. The Lakers will look to snap their three-game losing streak Sunday against the Thunder. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

They might be tired of breaking badly almost every night. They might feel the weight of a rudderless season.

As if Oklahoma City cares. As if San Antonio will be compassionate.

The Lakers play the Thunder two games in a row and then the Spurs the next two after that, and if that doesn't sound like feeding mice to snakes, then what really does?

The Lakers are coming off their worst three-game defensive effort ever, surrendering an average of 136 points against New Orleans, the Clippers and Denver. One of those teams will actually make the playoffs.

Through Friday, Oklahoma City and San Antonio have combined for 91 victories this season. Only 32 losses. Two NBA Finals appearances the last two years. You get the picture.

At this rate, the Lakers (21-42) might challenge the team record for points allowed in a season — 111.8 per game, set in 1983-84.

That team won the Western Conference. This team will win the lottery only if it's lucky.

The Lakers currently own the NBA's fourth-worst record, good for an 11.9% chance at the No. 1 pick in the May 20 lottery drawing. If they drop to the third-worst record, the odds increase to 15.6%.

Not to fear, Lakers fans. The pingpong ball percentages will only improve if the Lakers keep blowing past their average of allowing 107.9 points.

It's probably a good time to note that Thunder forward Kevin Durant leads the league with 31.8 points a game.

"Teams know that we're not really good defensively and they come into the game saying, 'This is going to be a good day for us on the offensive end,' and they get that confidence going into the game," Pau Gasol said.

Yeah, pretty much.

Nick Young and Jordan Hill won't play against Oklahoma City, and neither will Kobe Bryant nor Steve Nash, but Gasol went through practice Saturday and planned to play despite spraining his left ankle against Denver.

He finished that game, even scored 27 points, but limped while leaving the locker room after the Lakers' 134-126 loss Friday.

He's, um, looking forward to all these games against Oklahoma City and San Antonio?

"Tough, tough games for sure," Gasol said. "We're at a point on our team where we're just trying to do our best every single game and see what turns up."

Denying it

Coach Mike D'Antoni downplayed a report that said he and General Manager Mitch Kupchak met in the locker room to discuss the state of the team after the Lakers' historic loss to the Clippers on Thursday.

Kupchak is almost always in the Lakers' locker room after home games, win or lose.

"He comes by every game for the last two years," D'Antoni said, laughing. "We've talked after every game."

The Lakers got crushed that night, 142-94, their most lopsided loss ever.